Registering your baby born in Spain: Registro Civil, birth certificate and nationality
A baby born in Spain must be registered at the Registro Civil — and being born here does NOT automatically make the baby Spanish. This guide explains the registration deadline, birth certificate, the baby's nationality, and the after-steps: padrón, health card and the consular passport.
What birth registration is
A baby born in Spain must be registered at the Registro Civil — usually by the hospital within 72 hours; otherwise, the parents normally have 10 days to declare the birth.
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Registration produces the certificado de nacimiento. New libros de familia are no longer issued, although older ones remain valid.
It is the base for everything else: empadronar the baby, the baby's health card and pediatra, and the consular passport.
Who registers (any status)
- The parents of a baby born in Spain — registration is for everyone, regardless of the parents' immigration status.
- The hospital usually issues the medical birth report (parte de nacimiento) that starts the process.
- There are legal deadlines: 72 hours if the healthcare centre communicates it and usually 10 days if the parents must declare it at the Registro Civil.
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The baby's nationality
- Born in Spain is NOT automatically Spanish — Spain is not pure ius soli. The baby normally takes the parents' nationality.
- Spanish nationality may be de origen in the Civil Code art. 17 cases (for example, a Spanish parent, one foreign parent also born in Spain except diplomatic/consular cases, or to avoid statelessness); otherwise it may come later by opción or residence — see the children's nationality guide.
- The baby has the right to registration, healthcare and schooling regardless of the parents' status.
Documents you need
- The hospital's parte de nacimiento (medical birth report).
- Both parents' ID (NIE/TIE/passport) and, if applicable, marriage proof or an older libro de familia.
- For foreign documents: often an apostille and a sworn translation.
- Afterwards: padrón for the baby, and the consulate's requirements for the baby's passport/nationality.
From the hospital to the health card
- The hospital issues the parte de nacimiento (medical birth report).
- Register the birth at the Registro Civil (or via the hospital) within the deadline.
- Get the certificado de nacimiento or registry certificate.
- Empadronar the baby at your town hall (the base for healthcare and schooling).
- Get the baby a tarjeta sanitaria and a pediatra.
- Sort the baby's nationality/passport at your consulate (and any Spanish-nationality route if it applies).
Common mistakes
- Assuming a baby born in Spain is automatically Spanish — usually not.
- Missing the 72-hour hospital route or the 10-day Registro Civil declaration deadline.
- Not empadronando the baby (needed for the health card and school).
- Not arranging the baby's passport/nationality at the consulate.
If there are problems
- Birth registration cannot be refused because of the parents' immigration status.
- If the baby would otherwise be stateless, there is a specific route to Spanish nationality — get advice.
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Related guides
Key terms in this guide
Birth registration FAQ
Is my baby Spanish if born in Spain?
Not automatically — Spain is not pure ius soli. The baby normally takes your nationality, but can be Spanish de origen in the Civil Code art. 17 cases, including statelessness and the parent-born-in-Spain route.
Where do I register the birth?
At the Registro Civil; the hospital often sends the data itself. If not, parents normally have 10 days to declare it.
Can I register without papers?
Yes — birth registration is for everyone regardless of the parents' immigration status.
What about the libro de familia?
New libros de familia are no longer issued; older books remain valid, but the key document now is the birth certificate or registry entry.
Does the baby get healthcare?
Yes — once registered and on the padrón, the baby gets a tarjeta sanitaria and a pediatra.
How does the baby get a passport?
Through your country's consulate, with the Spanish certificado de nacimiento.
When must I register?
Via the hospital, within 72 hours; if the hospital does not send it, usually within 10 days at the Registro Civil.
Can the baby become Spanish later?
Yes — by opción or, after the required residence, by nationality. See the children's nationality guide.
Official sources
- Ley 20/2011 del Registro Civil
- Código Civil art. 17, 20 and 22 — nationality
- Ministerio de Justicia — inscripción de nacimiento
Informational guide; rules, deadlines and nationality cases are specific. Check your case with NAVI.
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